Disposable collapsible drink mixing container

ABSTRACT

A drink container has a liquid-tight film pouch which is collapsible into a substantially flat condition. Drink ingredients in a solid or condensed liquid state can be stored in or added to the pouch through an opening in an upper portion of the pouch. A cover with a liquid tight seal closes the opening. A dispense opening with a straw may be provided, or the beverage can be dispensed through the fill opening. The openings, straws and cover are located and contoured to conform with the desired substantially flat storage condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to containers for beverages and moreparticularly concerns disposable containers for storing and mixing drinkingredients with water or other liquids and for dispensing the mixedbeverage to the consumer.

There are a variety of known disposable containers for carryingbeverages in liquid form for consumption directly from the container.Some use straws, stored either inside or outside the container. Thereare also collapsible containers for carrying ingredients in a solid orconcentrated liquid to be mixed with water or other liquids at the timeof consumption. There are several problems and inconveniences inherentin the configuration of these known disposable and collapsiblecontainers.

The disposable containers store the beverage in a liquid, ready-to-drinkstate. Consequently, the container takes on the full weight and volumeof the ready-to-drink beverage whether or not the consumer is ready todrink. This weight and volume may not pose a significant disadvantage ifonly one container is being transported but, for example, to a hiker orsoldier on an extended trip with no source of flavored or fortifieddrinks along the way, the weight and volume of multiple containersbecomes a burden. Furthermore, known disposable containers generallycannot be resealed and have no suitable access for adding liquid.

Those disposable containers which require straws do not havestraw-to-container accesses which satisfactorily minimize leakage duringuse. Those which do not require straws have drink dispensing ports whichare not satisfactory in terms of spillage of beverage during drinking orwhich would make satisfactory collapse of the container difficult if notimpossible.

The collapsible containers for drink ingredients are generally intendedfor repeated use and are not intended to be disposable after a singleuse. While they are collapsible to some extent, they do not collapsesufficiently to make it feasible to carry many of them at the same time.Since they are reusable, they are generally made of too expensive andheavy materials and of too complex structural configuration forone-time-only use.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a disposablebeverage ingredients container which collapses to a substantially flatcondition. Another object of this invention is to provide a disposablebeverage ingredients container which stores beverage ingredients in asolid or condensed liquid state. Still another object of this inventionis to provide a disposable beverage ingredients container into which theconsumer can add water or other liquids at the time of consumption. Itis also an object of this invention to provide a disposable beverageingredients container in which stored ingredients can be mixed withwater or other liquids at the time of consumption. A further object ofthis invention is to provide a disposable beverage ingredients containerfrom which the consumer can drink directly without a straw. Yet anotherobject of this invention is to provide a disposable beverage ingredientscontainer which includes a straw. Another object of this invention is toprovide a disposable beverage ingredients container which has a leakageresistant straw-to-container access. Still another object of thisinvention is to provide a disposable beverage ingredients containerwhich has a spillage resistant filling port. It is also an object ofthis invention to provide a disposable beverage ingredients containerwhich has a filling port which can be resealed. A further object of thisinvention is to provide a disposable beverage ingredients container witha straw that can be closed. Yet another object of this invention is toprovide a disposable beverage ingredients container which is simply andinexpensively constructed. And it is an object of this invention toprovide a disposable beverage ingredients container which may beresealable for future use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, a drink has a liquid-tight film pouchwhich is collapsible into a substantially flat condition. Drinkingredients in a solid or condensed liquid state can be stored in oradded to the pouch through an opening in an upper portion of the pouch.A cover with a liquid tight seal closes the opening. The opening islocated and the cover contoured to conform with the desiredsubstantially flat storage condition.

Preferably, the pouch has opposed front and rear panels sealed togetheralong their side edges and top and bottom panels with their perimeterssealed to the top and bottom perimeters of the front and rear panels.The top and bottom panels are foldable across their widths into thesubstantially flat condition and are preferably elliptical so the pouchassumes a substantially ovate horizontal cross-section condition as itis filled with liquid. In preferred embodiments, the fill opening may beapproximately centered on and have a perimeter on one side of the majoraxis of the elliptical top panel or may be spaced away from the minoraxis with its perimeter on one side of the major axis of the ellipticaltop panel.

The fill opening has a resealable cover Which may be a plug insertableinto the opening. In one embodiment, the plug and the opening haveco-operable means on peripheral edges thereof for resisting inadvertentremoval of the plug from the opening. For example, the cover may have aflat, thin, substantially rigid collar fixed around a perimeter of theopening and be hinged to a flat, thin, substantially rigid pluginsertable into the collar. Alternatively, the fill opening can becovered with an adhesive strip. The pouch may also have a dispenseopening in its top panel, preferably with its perimeter on one side ofthe major axis of the top panel. The dispense opening may have a strawextending through it. Preferably, the straw has a first tubular memberwith a closed bottom end and at least one aperture through a lowerportion of its side wall and a second tubular member longer than and inreciprocally slidable abutment within the first tubular member. Thesecond tubular member slides between a closed condition with an openbottom end of the second tubular member seated on the closed bottom endof the first tubular member and an open condition with the open bottomend of the second tubular member above an uppermost of the secondtubular member apertures. Preferably, the tubular members have means ontheir abutting surfaces for sealing the annulus between them againstflow of liquid into the bottom of the second tubular member when thebottom of the second tubular member is seated on the bottom of the firsttubular member. The sealing means may, for example, be a mating annularring and groove on the tubular members in the annulus below thelowermost aperture of the first tubular member or a conical protrusionin the bottom of the first tubular member for seating the open bottom ofthe second tubular in the closed condition. The straw may also includemeans on abutting surfaces of the tubular members for sealing theannulus against upward flow of liquid to a top of the first tubularmember. This may also be accomplished by one or more sets of matingannular rings and grooves.

A cap may be used to close the open upper end of the second tubularmember against upward flow of liquid. If so, it is preferred that thecap is attached to the pouch by a flexible connector so that the cap canbe mounted on and removed from the upper end of the second tubularmember. Means is also provided for locking the tubular members in theclosed condition, such as mating male and female threads on abuttingsurfaces of the tubular members.

Whether the container has separate fill and dispense openings, has acommon fill and dispense opening, or uses or does not use a straw, itwill store the mixing ingredients in substantially flat packages whichare easily stacked on each other for transport.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the following detailed description and upon reference to thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the container witha straw;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a flip-cap fill opening cover of thecontainer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the container with anadhesive strip fill opening cover;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a typical straw for use with variousembodiments of the container;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of another embodiment of the containerwithout a straw;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of another embodiment of the containerwith a straw;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the inner tubular member of the straw ofFIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the fill hole insert of the containerof FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the outer tubular member and screw capof the container of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a conical seal embodiment of the straw.

While the invention will be described in connection with preferredembodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is not intended tolimit the invention to those embodiments or to the details of theconstruction or arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning to FIGS. 1-3, a disposable container 10 for mixing and drinkingliquids made by dissolving powdered ingredients or drink mixingingredients in other than powdered form in water or other liquid isformed from a liquid-tight film pouch 11 which is collapsible into asubstantially flat condition. The powdered drink ingredients, or drinkmixing ingredients in other than powdered form, may be packaged in thepouch 11 or added to the pouch at the time of mixing. As seen in FIG. 3,the pouch 11 has a fill opening 13 in its upper portion and a means forclosing 15 the fill opening with a liquid tight seal. The fill opening13 provides access to the pouch 11 for introduction of the ingredientsand liquid into the pouch 11 for mixing and may also be used fordispensing the mixed drink from the pouch 11. The location of the fillopening 13 and the contour of the closing means 15 are coordinated forconformance of the closing means 15 with the desired substantially flatcondition of the pouch 11 in its storage condition.

Continuing to look at FIGS. 1-3, the pouch 11 has opposed front and rearpanels 21 and 23 which are sealed together along their side edges 25 and27 and top and bottom panels 31 and 33 which are sealed along theirperimeters to the top and bottom perimeters 35 and 37 of the front andrear panels 21 and 23. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the top and bottompanels 31 and 33 fold across their widths into the substantially flatcondition. As seen in FIG. 3, the fill opening 13 is in the top panel31. The sealed top and bottom perimeters 35 and 37 of the pouch 11 are,as shown, preferably elliptical and fold along their major axes 29 and39 so that the flat pouch 11 assumes a substantially ovate horizontalcross-section condition as it is being filled with liquid. As shown, theperimeter of the fill opening 13 is entirely on one side of the majoraxis 29 of the ovate cross-section. The fill opening 13 may, as seen inFIG. 3, be spaced from or, as seen in FIG. 5, be centered on, the minoraxis 41 of the top panel 31.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, a flip-cap closing means 43 for the fillopening 13 has a pair of flat, thin rigid panels 45 and 47 connected bya hinge 49. One of the panels 45 has a plug 51 with a peripheral groove53 and the other panel 47 has an opening 55 defining a collar 57 forco-operable engagement in the groove 53 of the plug 51 to resistinadvertent removal of the plug 51 from the fill opening 13. The collar57 is dimensioned to concur with the fill opening 13 and the collarpanel 47 is fixed to the pouch top panel 31 with the fill opening 13 andcollar 57 aligned. The collar panel 47 also has a latch 59 which engagesthe unhinged end 61 of the plug panel 45 when the collar 57 and theperimeter of the fill opening 13 are engaged in the plug groove 53. Therigidity of the panels 45 and 47 facilitates manipulation of theflip-cap closure 43 and firm engagement of the plug 51 and latch 59. Thelocation and substantially flat contour of the plug 51 permitconformance of the plug 51 to the substantially flat storage conditionof the pouch 11 in both the plug-inserted condition and the plug-removedcondition.

Looking at FIG. 5, the fill opening 13 may alternatively be covered by aflap 62 with a pull tab 63 having a base 65 permanently fixed to thecontainer top panel 31. The base 65 has an opening aligned with the fillhole 13. The flap 62 initially closes the fill hole 13 by use of anouter adhesive seal 67. Once opened, a peel-off flap 68 can be removedto expose an inner adhesive seal 69 under the flap 68 used to close theopened fill hole 13. As shown, the fill opening 13 is disposed with itsperimeter on one side of the major axis 29 of the pouch top panel 31 andcentered on the minor axis 41 of the top panel 31.

As seen in FIGS. 3, 5 and 7, the same opening 13 can be used without astraw for both filling and dispensing and, for drinking without a straw,the top panel 31 may preferably be configured to provide a taper 71 toan opening-below the minor axis 41 of the top panel 31. This facilitatesmanipulation of the pouch 11 during drinking and filling to an efficientflow configuration.

Returning to FIG. 3, another opening 73 may be provided in the pouch 11,as shown proximate one end of the top panel 31 with its perimeter on themajor axis 29 of the panel 31, for dispensing the mixed drink from thepouch 11; Looking at FIG. 1, a straw 81 extends through the dispenseopening 73 to proximate the bottom panel 33 of the pouch 11. The straw81, best seen in FIGS. 6 and 8-11, has an outer tubular member 83 withan open upper end 85 and a closed bottom end 87. At least one aperture89 through the lower portion of the side wall of the outer tubularmember 83 admits liquid from the pouch 11 into the outer tubular member83. The straw 81 also has an inner tubular member 91 longer than theouter tubular member 83. The inner member 91 slides reciprocally inabutment within the outer tubular member 83 between a closed conditionin which the open bottom 93 of the inner tubular member 91 is seated onthe closed bottom 87 of the first tubular member 83 and an opencondition in which the open bottom 93 of the inner tubular member 91 ispositioned above the uppermost aperture 89 in the outer tubular member83. In the closed condition, liquid cannot freely pass through theapertures 89 in the outer tubular member 83 into the annulus 95 betweenthe tubular members 83 and 91 or into the bottom 93 of the inner tubularmember 91 from the annulus 95. The resulting labyrinth effectivelyblocks flow of liquid into the inner tubular member 91. In the opencondition, liquid passes freely through every aperture 89 in the outertubular member 83 and into the bottom 93 of the inner tubular member 91.Between the open and closed conditions, liquid flows through exposedportions of the apertures 89 in the outer tubular member 83 into thebottom 93 of the inner tubular member 91. To further assure a seal ofthe annulus 95, means such as sets of mating annular rings and grooves97 can be positioned on the abutting surfaces of the tubular members 83and 91. In the closed condition, at least one annular ring and grooveset 97, located below the lowermost aperture 89 in the outer tubularmember 83, mate at the same time that the bottom 93 of the inner tubularmember 91 seats on the bottom 87 of the outer tubular member 83. In theopen condition, at least one mating annular ring and groove set 97 islocated above the uppermost aperture 89 in the outer tubular member 83.Seal of the annulus 95 may be accomplished in other ways such as, forexample as seen in FIG. 12, a conical protrusion 101 in the bottom 87 ofthe outer tubular member 83 can seat the open bottom 93 of the innertubular member 91 in the closed condition. The open upper end 99 of theinner tubular member 91 can also be provided with a cap 103 toblock-upward flow of liquid-through the inner tubular member 91. The cap103 can be attached by a flexible connector 105 to a mounting ring 107on the straw 81, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 8, or to the pouch 11, so thatthe upper end 99 of the inner tubular member 91 can be opened and closedas needed.

Going back to FIGS. 1 and 3, the junction of the perimeter of thedispense opening 73 with the perimeter of the outer tubular member 83 ofthe straw 81 preferably has a liquid flow preventing seal 109, perhapsaccomplished by heat welding. Alternatively, as seen in FIGS. 8-11, aninsert 111 with a threaded neck 113 aligned with the fill opening 13 ofany embodiment and a base 115 fixed to the pouch 11 can be covered witha screw cap 117. Such a closure can be used to cover either the fill ordispense openings 13 or 73. In a straw type embodiment of the container10, either the screw cap 117 is provided with an opening 119 whichsnugly girts the outer tubular member 83 of the straw 81 or the screwcap 117 is integrally molded with the outer tubular member 83 of thestraw 81. The structure and operation of the tubular members 83 and 91is otherwise substantially as hereinbefore described. The open upper end99 of the inner tubular member 91 can also be covered with its own cap103, also as hereinbefore described.

The tubular members 83 and 91 may also be locked in the closedcondition, for example and as shown in FIG. 6, by use of mating male andfemale threads 121 and 123 on abutting surfaces of the tubular members83 and 91 so that, in the closed condition, the inner tubular member 91can be rotated into a sealed threaded engagement with the outer tubularmember 83.

The locations of openings 13 and 73, the use of a straw 81 and the typesof opening covers 43 and 63 illustrated herein are interchangeable toachieve a variety of containers in keeping with the invention. Thethickness, location and orientation of the straw 81 and the variouscovers 43 and 63 and caps 103 and 117 described above allow thecontainer to maintain its desired substantially flat storage condition.In the screw cap straw embodiment of FIG. 8, it may be desirable toremove the tubular members 83 and 91 from the cap 117 for storage sothat the base 115 of the insert 111 will follow the fold 29 of the toppanel 31 of the pouch 11 into the storage condition.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance withthe invention, a disposable collapsible powdered drink mixing containerthat fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above.While the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modificationsand variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and in lightof the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace allsuch alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within thespirit of the appended claims.

1. A drink container comprising: a liquid-tight film pouch collapsibleinto a substantially flat condition; drink mixing ingredients in saidpouch; an opening in an upper portion of said pouch; and means forclosing said opening with a liquid tight seal; said opening beinglocated and said closing means being contoured for conformance of saidclosing means with said substantially flat condition.
 2. A drinkcontainer according to claim 1, said pouch comprising: opposed front andrear panels sealed together along side edges thereof; top and bottompanels having perimeters sealed to top and bottom perimeters,respectively, of said front and rear panels.
 3. A drink containeraccording to Claim 2, said top and bottom panels being foldable acrosswidths thereof into said substantially flat condition.
 4. A drinkcontainer according to claim 2, said opening being in said top panel. 5.A drink container according to claim 4, said pouch assuming asubstantially ovate horizontal cross-section condition as said pouch isbeing filled with liquid.
 6. A drink container according to claim 5,said opening being approximately centered with respect to and having aperimeter on one side of a major axis of said ovate cross-section.
 7. Adrink container according to claim 1, said closing means comprising aplug insertable into said opening.
 8. A drink container according toclaim 7, said plug and said opening having co-operable means onperipheral edges thereof for resisting inadvertent removal of said plugfrom said opening.
 9. A drink container according to claim 7 furthercomprising means for connecting said closing means to said pouch, forpermitting said plug to be inserted into and removed from said openingand for permitting conformance of said closing means with saidsubstantially flat condition in a plug-inserted condition and in aplug-removed condition.
 10. A drink container according to claim 7, saidclosing means comprising: a flat, thin, substantially rigid collar fixedaround a perimeter of said opening; a flat, thin, substantially rigidplug insertable into said collar; and means for hinging said plug onsaid collar.
 11. A drink container according to claim 10, said pouchcomprising: opposed front and rear panels sealed together along sideedges thereof; top and bottom panels having perimeters sealed to top andbottom perimeters, respectively, of said front and rear panels.
 12. Adrink container according to claim 11, said top and bottom panels beingfoldable across widths thereof into said substantially flat condition.13. A drink container according to claim 1 further comprising a secondopening in said pouch.
 14. A drink container according to claim 4further comprising a second opening in said top panel.
 15. A drinkcontainer according to claim 14, said pouch assuming a substantiallyovate horizontal cross-section condition as said pouch is being filledwith liquid.
 16. A drink container according to claim 15, said secondopening being proximate an end of and having a perimeter on one side ofa major axis of said ovate cross-section.
 17. A drink containeraccording to claim 13 further comprising a straw extending through saidsecond opening to proximate said bottom panel of said pouch.
 18. A drinkcontainer according to claim 17, said straw comprising: a first tubularmember having a closed bottom end and having at least one aperturethrough a lower portion of a side wall of said tubular member; and asecond tubular member longer than and reciprocally slidable in abutmentwithin said first tubular member between a closed condition with an openbottom end of said second tubular member seated on said closed bottomend of said first tubular member and an open condition with said openbottom end of said second tubular member above an uppermost of said atleast one aperture.
 19. A drink container according to claim 18 furthercomprising means on abutting surfaces of said tubular members forsealing an annulus therebetween against flow of liquid into said bottomof said second tubular member when said bottom of said second tubularmember is seated on said bottom of said first tubular member.
 20. Adrink container according to claim 19, said sealing means comprising amating annular ring and groove on said tubular members in said annulusbelow a lowermost of said at least one aperture of said first tubularmember.
 21. A drink container according to claim 19, said sealing meanscomprising a conical protrusion in said bottom of said first tubularmember for seating of said open bottom of said second tubular memberthereon in said closed condition.
 22. A drink container according toclaim 18 further comprising means on abutting surfaces of said tubularmembers for sealing an annulus therebetween against upward flow ofliquid to a top of said first tubular member.
 23. A drink containeraccording to claim 22, said sealing means comprising at least one set ofmating annular rings and grooves.
 24. A drink container according toclaim 18 further comprising means for capping an open upper end of saidsecond tubular member against upward flow of liquid therethrough.
 25. Adrink container according to claim 24 further comprising means forconnecting said capping means to said pouch and for permitting saidcapping means to be mounted on and removed from said open upper end ofsaid second tubular member.
 26. A drink container according to claim 17further comprising a liquid flow preventing seal between a perimeter ofsaid second opening and a perimeter of said first tubular member.
 27. Astraw comprising: an first tubular member having a closed bottom end andhaving at least one aperture through a lower portion of a side wall ofsaid tubular member; and an second tubular member longer than andreciprocally slidable in abutment within said first tubular memberbetween a closed condition with an open bottom end of said secondtubular member seated on said closed bottom end of said first tubularmember and an open condition with said open bottom end of said secondtubular member above an uppermost of said at least one aperture.
 28. Astraw according to claim 27 further comprising means on abuttingsurfaces of said tubular members for sealing an annulus therebetweenagainst flow of liquid into said bottom of said second tubular memberwhen said bottom of said second tubular member is seated on said bottomof said first tubular member.
 29. A straw according to claim 28, saidsealing means comprising a mating annular ring and groove on saidtubular members in said annulus below a lowermost of said at least oneaperture of said first tubular member.
 30. A straw according to claim28, said sealing means comprising a conical protrusion in said bottom ofsaid first tubular member for seating of said open bottom of said secondtubular member thereon in said closed condition.
 31. A straw accordingto claim 27 further comprising means on abutting surfaces of saidtubular members for sealing an annulus therebetween against upward flowof liquid to a top of said first tubular member.
 32. A straw accordingto claim 31, said sealing means comprising at least one set of matingannular rings and grooves.
 33. A straw according to claim 32 furthercomprising means for capping an open upper end of said second tubularmember against upward flow of liquid therethrough.
 34. A straw accordingto claim 33 further comprising means for connecting said capping meansto said straw and for permitting said capping means to be mounted on andremoved from said open upper end of said second tubular member.
 35. Astraw according to claim 27 further comprising means for locking saidtubular members in said closed condition.
 36. A straw according to claim35, said locking means comprising mating male and female threads onabutting surfaces of said tubular members.